Mental Health Awareness Week: Cultivating a campus community of care, support

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Student Government, in partnership with several other university student groups, Purdue Graduate Student Government, administration, and human resources, next week (Feb. 17-21) will host Purdue University’s inaugural Mental Health Awareness Week.

Multiple campus events, themed around the eight dimensions of wellness — intellectual, emotional, physical, social, occupational, financial, environmental and spiritual – are being held to cultivate a community of care and support among students, faculty, and staff. Additionally, the week’s events aim to initiate and destigmatize conversations surrounding mental health and well-being, and ensure that Purdue’s community members have the education and resources available to understand and practice a holistic well-being.  

In its most recent analysis, Active Minds, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization in mental health awareness and education for students, found that 39% of students experience a significant mental health setback in college. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one of every five U.S. adults experience mental illness in their lifetime. And mental health disorders are the most burdensome health concerns in the U.S. With such a large percentage of students and adults facing these difficulties, mental health is a topic of the utmost importance, and one that requires meaningful action.  

Too often, those who wrestle with psychological ailments are discriminated against, marginalized, and isolated because their conditions are misunderstood by society. These misunderstandings have increased over the past decade, especially in academic environments. The definition of mental health, and the needs of students as they transition to and navigate life in higher education, have both evolved drastically over time. Understanding this is critical in the work of ensuring higher-education institutions meet the needs of their students.

It is for these reasons that Purdue Student Government, as a leading voice, is committed to ending the stigma by providing support and programming on mental healing this semester’s Mental Health Awareness Week campaign. Purdue administration and human resources support the students’ endeavor; by partnering with Purdue Student Government in this campaign, the importance of mental health resources and the impact the Healthy Boiler Program can have on behavioral health will be reinforced among the faculty and staff population.

Media contact: Assata Gilmore, vice president, Purdue Student Government, gilmorea@purdue.edu